ZIMBABWE can draw lessons from Egypt on how to harness renewable energy to help alleviate the country’s power challenges, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.
After touring the Benban Solar Park in Aswan province, Egypt, where he is on a week-long visit at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart, Dr Hanafy El Gebaly, Adv Mudenda said there was scope for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector between Harare and Cairo. The US$3,5 billion solar project was developed by Infinity Solar Projects, a wholly owned Egyptian company.
“What we have learnt here is that there is scope to partner with our Egyptian counterparts, who are now ahead in terms of renewable energy,” he said.
“As Zimbabwe, we can learn a lot, to an extent where we can also then retain the technical expertise they have here to expand our energy generation capacity and open new frontiers in renewable energy development on our own.”
He said development of massive solar projects has positive downstream effects that include employment creation.
The Egyptian project created over 20 000 direct jobs.
“Under the stewardship of His Excellency, Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, the country has made significant progress to ameliorate the debilitating effects of power shortages, which have gripped Southern Africa and the world.
“The President has, however, consistently indicated the need to harness the extended sun hours that the country enjoys,” he said.
During the tour, Adv Mudenda heard that Egypt also benefitted from skills and technology transfer from Chinese and German contractors, who provided technical support. The Benban Solar Park generates 1 045MW, which support a million households. Investors had already recouped their initial outlay after four years of operating the solar park.
Adv Mudenda’s delegation — which was hosted by Aswan province deputy governor General Ashraf Foaad — comprises acting chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Brigadier-General Callisto Gwanetsa (Retired), Gokwe-Mapfungautsi legislator Tawanda Karikoga, as well as Chipinge Central Member of Parliament Constance Chihururu. – Sunday Mail
